Cigarette vending machine



Ot. 26, 1937. E. LAWVER I 2,097,333

CIGARETTE VENDING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 26, 1937. E. 1.. LAWVER 2,097,333

CIGARETTE VENDING MACHINE Filed May 1, 19:54 4. Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 26, 1937. L. LAWVER ,0

CIGARETTE VENDING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 V 61 0 0 0 /4 :f :il ni J 55 24 2 i 38 I :i

ii; v Y' n1 Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '7 Claims.

One of the objects of the present invention is to improve on the delivering mechanism of coincontrolled cigarette vending machines of that general type which discharges a single cigarette at each eifective operation of the machine when a suitable coin, such as a penny, is inserted in the coin-controlled mechanism and the machine is operated.

My improvements having to do with the delivering mechanism are particularly useful in connection with cigarette vending machines having a shiftably mounted slotted delivery member adapted to receive a single cigarette issuing or fed from the original package or carton contained in the machine and to retain the cigarette until a coin is inserted in the coin slot of the machine and the machine is operated, whereupon the delivery member is released and actuated by its spring means to snap it to a position which enables the cigarette to directly discharge therefrom so as to be available by the customer,

In this type of machine, the spring-actuated delivery member is intended to be normally restrained by a dog or detent and to be released only when a coin is inserted in the coin slot and the operating means is manually actuated, thus eifecting the vending or delivery of but one cigarette, namely the cigarette then in the slotted delivery member.

This type of delivery mechanism and detent as heretofore developed, is defective, principally because an unscrupulous person can, by jiggling or manipulating the manually operated part of the coin-controlled mechanism, and so vibrate the delivery member that a series of vending operations may be effected before the coin will fall out of the coin-controlled mechanism and stop the misuse of the machine.

The fault existing in the machine has been due, 40 first, to failure of the dog, detent or pawl to properly lock the delivery member after the first cigarette has been discharged and; second, to the inability of the coin control mechanism toinsure the discharge of the coin, once the manuallyoperable means thereof has been started on its travel by the person operating the machine; third, to no means being provided to normalize or stabilize the position of the delivery member, once it has been re-set to normal position.

My present improvements in the cigarette delivery mechanism have for their objects overcoming these defects.

One of these objects is accomplished by providing a series of teeth on the delivery member and a tooth on the detent which. engages one of the series of teeth at all times, except when the coin has dropped out of the coin-controlled means and the delivery member is in discharging position. In that position, the flow or feed of the cigarettes to the delivery member is stopped or blocked because the slot in the delivery member is then out of register with the following cigarette.

Another of these objects is accomplished by providing a spring which co-operates with the delivery member to assist the coin-control mechanism to restore the said delivery member to normal position after the machine has been operated and to maintain it there so that it cannot be jiggled or vibrated for the purpose of obtaining more than one cigarette.

My improvements which insure the discharge of the coin, thereby to free the manually-operable means of the coin-control mechanism so that it cannot be worked back and forth or jiggled for the purpose of obtaining more than one cigarette, include a depression or notch into which the coin drops before it trips the detent or dog that holds the delivery member, the shoulder of the depression preventing the manually operable means of the coin control from moving backward and insuring that the coin be pushed over the slot through which it will then drop to the coin receptacle, thereby preventing further operation of the machine until the parts return to normal position.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cigarette vending machine having my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough on the line 2-2, Fig. 3, the parts being in normal position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, showing the delivery mechanism and the coin-control mechanism with my improvements applied thereto, the parts being in normal position and the top of the machine having been removed, dot-and-dash lines representing the single cigarette which the delivery member holds prior to thevending operation;

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 3, a coin having previously been inserted and the machine manually operated to release the detentrfrom the delivery member, the latter having snapped to delivery position and the cigarette and coin being about to drop;

Fig. 5 is a view like Fig. 3, the coin and cigarette having dropped, the manually operable device having returned toward normal position a sufiicient distance to cause it to partially restore the cigarette delivery member toward normal positioll and the detent re-engaged. with the delivmoved, the revenue stamp ery member to prevent another operation of the delivery member;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the magazine top or upper part of the machine showing the co-operation of the improved spring with the underside of the magazine to prevent kicking-up of the cigarette agitator or feeder;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective View of the delivery member, and the detent, as improved;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8B, Fig. 3, showing the manner in which the coin drops into the depression to prevent return movement of the manual operating device until the coin has droppped through the coin discharge slot;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of an original sealed carton or package of cigarettes with revenue stamp attached such as used in the present machine; and

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section therethrough, a few of the cigarettes being shown.

As shown, the case comprises a base I having a coin-receiving box or till '2 and suitable cushion feet 3; 'a separate middle section 4 supported by the base I and adaptedto be locked thereto by a special lock ,5 having key 6, said middle section carrying the coin-control mechanism; and a separate top section '7 secured to the base Lby bolts or screws 8 and enclosing the package or carton of cigarettes 9 from which the cigarettes are delivered to the coin-control mechanism on the middle section 4.

7 The top section 1 has glass sides and top H] and glass front H and is closed at the rear by a removable door l2 secured by a catch l3 and lock .Mprovided with key I 5.

The carton 9 of cigarettes i6 is shown in Figs. 9 and 10 in its original condition sealed by revenue stamp I]. This carton is shown in the machine in Fig. 2 in its vending or dispensing condition, stamp I! having been broken to free the closure l8 thereof so that the cigarettes may be accessible for vending.

The parton has longitudinal supporting flanges l9, an inclined front 20 to fit against glass front II, and an inspection window 2| of any suitable transparent material secured in any desired manner.

The carton and its manner of use are intended to meet the requirements of the internal revenue laws.

The door or closure l2 having first been rel! of carton 9 is brokenand the cartonthen inserted in the inclined holderin the upper part of section 1 and pushed clear'up to the front glass pane ll so that the revenue stamp H which is then at the forward end of the carton will be clearly visible through pane H, to meet the requirements of the .law. The door 12 is then closed .and locked.

,like agitator or ,feeder23 whose fingers 23' are adapted to slide in the grooves of bottom 22.

. Theforward onesof fingers 23 and the middle part of the agitator "23 have grooves 23 i Which 'ing 9".

lie the cigarettes in the lowest row, insuring agitation and forward feeding of the cigarettes from the forward lower corner of the carton 9. It will be understood that the closure I8 having been opened before the carton 9 is inserted in the holder, the carton is supported on the bottom of the holder by the supporting flanges 19 when in the holder, leaving the lower layer of cigarettes free to pass through the space 9" (Fig. 2), one at a time in succession, on successive operations of the machine. Asa cigarette passes through space 9" it is in readiness for vending.

The agitator 23 is operated from the vending or delivering mechanism by a wire or rod 24 whose upper and horizontal part engages the slot of a fork 25 which depends from the agitator.

There is a short chute 26 into which the cigarettes pass when issuing from through the open- Rearwardly of the chute 26 there is a slot 21 in the bottom 22 in which the fork 25 may move.

I-do not claim the construction of the agitator 23, fork 25, and'rod or wire 24 alone. However, it having been found that the agitator tends to kick up and interfere with the proper and satisfactory feed or movement of the cigarettes, I have provided improved means which overcomes this tendency, said means, comprising a forked bowed leaf-spring 28 (Figs. 2 and 6) Whose rear part is secured to the bottom of agitator 23 at 29. The branches of this spring extend forwardly,

straddling the operating fork 25, being disposed on opposite sides of slot 21 and slidably bearing on the underside of front part of bottom 22. The spring 28, being bodily carried by the agitator 23 and slidably pressing against the bottom 22, holds the agitator'in its grooves and keeps it from kicking up when operated, thereby insuring proper operation of the agitator although permitting slight yielding such as will prevent any sticking.

The coin-controlled cigarette delivery mechanism, which is shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, is carried by the top plate or web 39 of the middle section 4. This mechanism, when provided with a suitable coin C introduced through slot 3|, Figs. 1 and 6, and manually operated by shifting the finger-piece 32, will effect the discharge of a single cigarette through slot 33 into the compartment 3 where it will fall to the receiver 35 for convenient removal by the customer.

The cigarette 36 in its normal position is shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 3 and when almost ready to drop into slot 33 it is positioned as in Fig. 4. The cigarette delivery member having discharged the cigarette, is on its way back to normal position in Fig. 5, the coin C having fallen through slot 39, Figs. 2 and 8, and being received by till 2.

The vending mechanism has a cigarette delivery member 31 which is rockably mounted in the curved bearing parts 38 upstanding from and integral with the horizontal web 39 of middle section 4. The member 31 has slot 40 to receive the cigarette 36.

When the parts are in normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, the slot 40 is arranged in crossed relationship to discharge slot 33 and the cigarette is then supported by that part of web 39 which is below the member 31.

When the machine has been operated, as shown in Fig. 4, the .slots 33 and 40 become aligned and the cigarette 36 falls into receiver 35 but as the slot 43 remains out of alignment with the short chute 2" until the member 31 returns to the normal position of Fig. 3, another cigarette does not enter the slot 40 until the normal position is resumed, whereupon the next cigarette will fall into slot 40 and be supported by web 39.

However, as will appear hereinafter, machines of this type can be fraudulently worked to deliver more than one cigarette for a single coin and it is the object of my improvements hereinafter described to prevent such fraudulent operation.

The manually operable means by which the machine may be operated when a coin C is introduced in slot 3| has a rearwardly slidable bar or slide 4| which is provided with finger-piece 32. the latter being movable in slot 42, said bar resting on web 39 and against the side flange 43 which rises above and circumscribes said web. Upstanding guide-lugs 44 retain the bar against flange 43.

The slidable bar 4| carries the rod or wire 24 which operates the agitator, so that the agitator is shifted to and fro as the bar moves.

On the base of the top section is a finger lug 45, Fig. 6, which is grasped by the forefinger of the customer when pushing with his thumb on the finger-piece 32.

The slide or bar 4| has a curved finger 43 which moves beneath the detent 59 and normally engages the part 31 of the delivery member 31, Figs. 3 and '7, and returns to and holds said member 3'! in the position shown in Fig. 3. This is due to the fact that the retracting or restoring spring 41 for the slide 4| is stronger than the restoring spring 48 for the delivery member 31.

Spring 41 is connected to an upstanding pin 49 rising from web 39 and to a horizontal pin 50 carried by the rear end of slide 4|.

Spring 48 has its forward end hooked into a hole 5| in a lug 52 on member 3'! and its rear end connected to pin 53.

Slide 4| has a vertical coin slot 53 extending therethrough from top to bottom which is positioned to receive a coin inserted in slot 3 I.

The coin C drops from slot 53 through slot 39' when the slide 4| reaches its innermost position. The web 39 is provided with a depression 54 which receives the lower edge of coin C as shown in Fig. 8. The shoulder or wall 55 at the forward end of depression 54 constitutes an abutment against which the coin C strikes if an attempt is made to reciprocate the slide 4| or to jiggle it in an endeavor to discharge or vend more than one cigarette and makes it necessary to push the slide all the way in and effect discharge of coin C before the slide 4| can return. Once the slide has been pushed all the way in, the coin falls through the slot 39, thus breaking the operative connection between the slide 4| and the dog, pawl or detent 56. Detent 53 normally locks the cigarette delivery member 3! against movement, said detent only being capable of release by the coin C, which releasing action is shown in Fig. 4.

If the coin C has not been previously inserted through slot 3| and into slot 53, no movement of slide 4| will release detent 56 and hence no action of delivery member 37 will occur.

The detent 55 which is pivoted by screw 57 to the top of the part 58 rising from web 39 has its tooth 56 normally held in engagement with one of the series of teeth 59 on the delivery member 31 by a spring 69 connecting it to pin 49, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. When the coin C is inserted in slot 3| and falls into slot 53 and the finger piece is pushed rearwardly, the coin C drops into depression 54 and is pushed against the horn 55 of detent 53 and, the pressure on slide 4| being continued, the detent is swung on its pivot 51, causing its tooth 56' to disengage from the tooth of the series 59 previously engaged. When this occurs, the detent 56 assumes the position shown in Fig. 4, the coin C next drops into slot 39 and falls into till or tray 2 and the spring 48 snaps the delivery member to the position shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the cigarette 35 previously in the slot 45 of the member 31 is free to fall into slot 33 and to drop down into compartment 34 and be caught by receiver 35. The customer can then pick up the cigarette for which he has paid.

On the release of the finger piece 32, spring 4! returns slide 4| to the normal position of Fig. 3, the finger 46 pressing against the part 31 and returning the delivery member 31 to its normal position. The coin no longer being present to serve as an abutment for the detent 56 and slide 4|, the spring 60 swings the detent and causes its tooth 55 to re-engage a tooth of the series 59.

There is a normalizing or stabilizing contractile spring 5| which connects the other end of the delivery member 3? to a pin 62 rising form Web 39 whose purpose is to assist the finger 45 in holding the delivery member 31 in normal position and to assist in returning said member to normal position, as well as to assist the detent 55 in holding the member 31.

Prior to my improvements, machines of the type shown and described have been defective in that they may be so manipulated as to deliver several cigarettes, once a coin is inserted, whereas with my improvements this is not possible.

Heretofore, once the coin C was inserted, the

customer could jiggle or shift the slide 4| back and forth and, having thereby disengaged the detent from the delivery member 31, could oscillate this member sufiiciently to start a stream of cigarettes through slot 43 because the said member could be repeatedly brought into such near alinement with slot 33 as to discharge one cigarette after another before the coin finally dropped through slot 39'.

The depression 54 and sholder 55 compel the full advance of the slide 4| and dropping of the 4 coin C before a cigarette can be obtained. When this occurs, the detent 55 is subject to the tension of spring 63 which tends to restore the detent from its position approximately shown in Fig. 4 to its locking position shown in Fig. 3.

If the slide 4| is manipulated while in any position intermediate those shown in Figs. 3 and 4, say the position of Fig. 5, the tooth 55' of the detent will engage one of the teeth 59 and prevent any such manipulation so oscillating the delivery member 3'! as to enable it first to be turned back to the position of Fig. 3 to receive a cigarette in its slot 49 and then be returned to its position shown in Fig. 4 to discharge the cigarette, because the tooth 53 will successively engage the teeth 59 and finally lock the member 37 in normal position; and also look it in intermediate positions.

The spring 3| by its tendency to assist finger 45 on slide 4| to restore the member 3? to normal position and to maintain it there, co-operates in preventing fraudulent manipulation of the slide 4|.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of the top plate or web;

of a cigarette vending machine, said topplate having a slot thereacross for the reception of cigarettes, a spring-actuated coin-carrier movably mounted on the top plate and provided with a coin slot adapted to receive a coin, a spring-actuated pivotally mounted detent, a portion of which extends in the path of a coin, when deposited in the slot of the coin carrier, a spring-actuated cigarette delivery member superimposed on the top plate and having a slot therethrough to receive cigarettes, the slot of the cigarette delivery member and the slot in the top plate normally held out of complete alignment or registry with each other by the coin carrier, the cigarette delivery member having a series of teeth thereon and the detent having a tooth in position to engage one of the teeth on the cigarette delivery member, the coin carrier provided with a finger located in the path of the toothed end of the cigarette delivery member adapted to restore the latter to normal position when the coin carrier returns to its normal position.

2. The combination of the top plate or web of a cigarette vending machine, said top plate having a slot thereacross for the reception of cigarettes, a spring actuated coin carrier movably mounted on the top plate and provided with a coin slot adapted to receive a coin, a springactuated pivotally mounted detent, a portion of which extends in the path of a coin when deposited in the slot of the coin carrier, a springactuated cigarette delivery member superimposed on the top plate and having a slot therethrough to receive cigarettes, the slot of the cigarette delivery member and the slot in the top plate normally held out of complete alignment or registry with each other by the coin carrier, the cigarette delivery member having a series of teeth thereon and the detent having a tooth in position to engage one of the teeth on the cigarette delivery member, the coin carrier provided with a finger located in the path of the toothed end of the cigarette delivery member adapted to restore the latter to normal position when the coin carrier returns to its normal position, the top plate provided with a slot in position to receive the coin from the slot in the coin carrier, when said two slots come into registry with each other.

3. The combination of the top plate of a cigarette vending machine, a side flange upstanding therefrom, the flange having a slot, a cigarette delivery member pivotally confined on the top plate, the top plate and delivery member each having cigarette receiving slots, a spring which tends to move the cigarette delivery member to bring said slots into registry for the delivery of a cigarette contained in the delivery member, a coin carrier resting and slidable upon the top plate and against the inner wall of the upstanding flange, and having a handle which projects through the slot in the flange whereby to manipulate the coin carrier, the coin carrier having a coin slot and the top plate provided with a slot to receive the coin from the carrier when the two slots are brought into alignment, and a pivotally mounted spring-actuated detent having a tooth in position to normally engage and lock the cigarette delivery member, said detent provided with a horn resting in the path of a coin in the coin carrier, whereby the movement of the latter in one direction causes a release of the cigarette delivery member and an alignment between the slot therein and the subjacent slot in the top plate, and a discharge of the contents of the cigarette delivery member, the coin carrier having a finger in position to restore the cigarette delivery member to normal position with its slot out of registry with the slot in the top plate when the coin carrier is released and returns to its normal position.

4. The combination of the top plate or web of a cigarette vending machine, said top plate having a slot thereacross for the reception of cigarettes, a spring-actuated coin carrier movably mounted on the top plate and provided with a coin slot adapted to receive a coin, a springactuated pivotally mounted detent, a portion of which extends in the path of a coin when deposited in the slot of the coin carrier, a springactuated cigarette delivery member superimposed on the top plate and having a slot therethrough to receive cigarettes, the slot of the cigarette delivery member and the slot in the top plate normally held out of complete alignment or registry with each other by the coin carrier, the cigarette delivery member having a series of teeth thereon and the detent having a tooth in position to engage one of the teeth on the cigarette delivery member, the coin carrier provided with a finger located in the path of the toothed end of the cigarette delivery member adapted to restore the latter to normal position when the coin carrier returns to its normal position, a hopper for containing the cigarettes located at a point above the cigarette delivery member and provided with a chute which normally registers with the slot in the cigarette delivery member for dropping a single cigarette therein.

5. The combination of a top plate or web of a vending machine, a coin carrier slidably mounted thereon, the coin carrier provided with a coin slot open to the top plate, whereby a coin deposited therein rests and moves upon a portion of the top plate, the top plate having a slot and a shoulder in the path of the coin, said slot located in position to receive and dispose of the coin When dropped from the coin carrier when the two slots are brought into registery, the shoulder being located in position to be engaged 'by the coin, whereby to arrest and limit any reverse movement of the coin carrier so long as the coin remains in the coin carrier, a springactuated cigarette delivery member resting and movable on the top plate, the top plate and the cigarette delivery member each provided with normally non-registering slots for the discharge of the article to be vended, and a movably mounted spring-actuated dog which normally maintains a non-alignment of the last-mentioned slots, and a portion of which dog normally rests in the path of the coin, which latter causes the release of the dog from the cigarette delivery member on its way to the discharge slot in the top plate.

6. The combination of a top plate or web of a cigarette vending machine, a coin carrier slidably mounted thereon, the coin carrier provided with coin slot opening to the top plate, whereby a coin deposited therein rests and moves upon a portion of the top plate, the top plate having a slot and a shoulder in the path of the coin, said slot located in position to receive and dispose of the coin when dropped from the coin carrier when the latter is moved sufficiently to bring the two slots into registry and the shoulder in position to be engaged by the coin, whereby to arrest and limit any reverse movement of the coin carrier so long as the coin remains in the coin carrier, a spring-actuated cigarette delivery member resting and capable of turning on the top plate or web and having a slot extending therethrough and adapted to receive therein and drop therethrough a single article at a time to be vended, the top plate or web having a corresponding slot therethrough at a point beneath the cigarette delivery member and extending at an angle to the normal disposition of the slot in the cigarette delivery member, a movably-mounted springactuated detent having a tooth and a horn thereon, the cigarette delivery member having a plurality of teeth in position to receive and to be engaged and locked by the tooth on the detent, the horn on the detent located in the path of the coin in the carrier whereby to be forced aside thereby to cause the release of the tooth on the detent from the tooth on the cigarette delivery member just prior to dropping the coin through from the carrier into the slot in the top plate or web, and means on the coin carrier for engaging and returning the cigarette delivery member to its normal position, a portion of the cigarette delivery member in position to be engaged and returned to normal position when the coin carrier returns to its initial position.

7. The combination of the top plate or web of a cigarette vending machine, a coin carrier slidably mounted thereon, the coin carrier provided with a slot extending therethrough from top to bottom, whereby a coin deposited therein rests and moves upon a, portion of the top plate, the top plate having a slot and a shoulder in the path of the coin, said slot located in position to receive and dispose of the coin when dropped from the coin carrier when the latter is moved sufficiently to bring the two slots into registry and the shoulder in position to be engaged by the coin, whereby to arrest and limit any reverse movement of the coin carrier so long as the coin remains in the coin carrier, a cigarette delivery member resting and capable of turning on the top plate or web and having a slot extending therethrough and adapted to receive therein and drop therethrough a single article at a time to be vended, the top plate or web having a corresponding slot therethrough at a point beneath the cigarette delivery member and extending at an angle to the normal disposition of the slot in the cigarette delivery member, a movably-mounted spring-actuated detent having a tooth and a horn thereon, the cigarette delivery member having a plurality of teeth in position to receive and to be engaged and locked by the tooth on the detent, the horn on the detent located in the path of the coin in the carrier whereby to be forced aside thereby to cause the release of the tooth on the detent from the tooth on the cigarette delivery member just prior to dropping the coin through from the carrier into the slot in the top plate or web, and means connected with and actuated by the coin carrier to swing the cigarette delivery member to align its slot with the subjacent slot in the top plate or web, and means for restoring the cigarette delivery member to a position with its slot crosswise of the subjacent slot in the top plate or web as the carrier is allowed to resume its normal position.

EMORY L. LAWVER. 

